Yes, it's me. Sorry that I've been missing on this blog but had a cruddy couple of weeks. Better now, Praise Jesus! so here I am...better late than never I suppose.

Well, as you saw on the photo on the last post I did finish the Mojo socks for Amanda. I liked the yarn but not for the this particular pattern.

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitsensei/mojo. I didn't really enjoy this pattern but it was probably the yarn, not the pattern. But sis likes them so that's the important thing. Lime green is her favorite color so they are a hit.

Just found out today that I won a sweater kit from http://www.scarletfleece.com. It's called the See it Designed, Win the Sweater kit contest and the sweater is this: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/escape-4. I can't wait to see the kit!

Haven't gotten a great deal of knitting done but finished this:

It's called "Charlie's Moebius" (on Ravelry) and I made it for mom. It used a dk and fingering weight held together and came out cute. She likes it. I didn't figure that she would ever like long cowls/moebius' but she really does. I've made her a few and I'm always glad to make her some. I like to make things for people, especially when they really want something.

Right now I'm knitting some socks and trying to finish a "Swiss Cheese" scarf made with Kauni yarn. I splurged and bought a skein of it (656 yds so you get alot for your money) and when I started the project I discovered that it was full of broken ends and pieces kind of stuffed into the center of the ball. Needless to say, I was disappointed but was going to tie each one together gently and soldier on. I went to the Kauni group on Ravelry to post a comment and see if anyone else had ever had that happen and was pleasantly surprised to see that the rep for the yarn company sent me a message expressing her apologies and an offer to send me a free skein to replace it. I was very impressed with that as I didn't expect anything but a comment or two. Certainly didn't do it with the expectation of getting more yarn. I will definately buy more of this yarn if this is the calibre of the company.

New mug!



This is some pineapple not so fried rice from "Chloe's Kitchen". A great cookbook.

Okay, have to get going now. Have a great week and stay cool!

Poor neglected blog. I will be back in a day or two. 

Did you ever have one of those weeks where you just couldn't be bothered to do anything? I had one this week and got knitting done but not much else. Including  blogging. Sorry :)

Sinus and allergy abounding all over here but at least the weather is beautiful. Spent the other evening on the back porch with my knitting and a glass of iced tea and my mp3 player, listening to some knitting podcasts. A thoroughly enjoyable evening. A little breeze and got to see the fireflies. I just love sitting and watching it get dark and having the little specks of light flickering all over the neighborhood.

Since it was so nice this past weekend we went to the farmers market in Hyde Park www.hydeparkfarmersmarket.com. They are back in their summer location on the square and there were lots of booths and loads of stuff. I really like this location as it's alot roomier and there is more air moving and space to breath. I really scored on produce...more scapes!,kale, swiss chard, purslane, and a lovely loaf of salt rye bread. I think I bought a few other things but can't remember off the top of my head.

Found fiddlehead ferns last week at (of all places) Trader Joe's. I've read about them for years but have never seen them so I was excited to find them. I made a pasta dish with fiddleheads, carrots, onions, and pasta drizzled with white truffle oil. Delicious. A very light meal for a hot day.

Right now I'm knitting a pair of socks for the Solidsockknitters' group on Ravelry. The theme is "green" and I'm using

Araucania Itata Solid in lime green.

I don't really care for the yarn with the pattern I picked http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitsensei/mojo. It's a nice pattern but mind-numbingly boring for me. I think that the yarn isn't the best for this pattern but since the yarn is for sis she got to pick the pattern. I should get done tonight (happy dancing all around) so I can work on other things.

Just finished this also.

This is the "Butin Collar" by Laura Nelkin. A lovely, fairly easy knit (unless you are me and obviously can't count!) and is easily finished in a few hours. I really like it and bought more beads to make a few more. It only takes 20 yards of fingering weight and who doesn't have a lot of that lying around?

Alright. I'm off to finish those green socks! Have a great night all.

Hahaha...finally finished!!



Where,oh where did the time go and how did it go so fast? I would have sworn that it wasn't that long between posts but I was wrong.

Let's see....what went on this week. Went to the farmers' market again and this was the only one that had garlic scapes again. Don't know why they have them but was glad to find them. And some lovely radishes that are just tasty. Also bought a loaf of salted rye bread that was delicious. I'm glad I stocked up because I can't imagine that I'll be going this weekend as it's supposed to be in the 90*s with the heat index of 100-105*. Yuck. Good knitting weather since I'm not going outside! I went to the library and stocked up on dvd's and have some serious project knitting to do. I am trying to finish my "Gothic Spire" socks from Cookie A.'s "Knit.Sock.Love." book because they've been on the needles since December. Disgraceful! I think it's the yarn. I started two other sock patterns with it and ended up tearing them out. But the first one is done and I'm moving right along on the other. Finally. They were difficult at first but I've gotten the hang of the pattern so I'm going to try and finish them this weekend.

I really like them though and they are comfortable. I won't be needing them for months though!

Here's a pair that I finished for mom. They are just my basic sock pattern for 64 stitches and I usually knit on them in the car or when I'm watching the NBA games....Go Spurs!!

Cooked the other day and made an absolutely wonderful seitan "gyros" meat. I will most definately make it again. Just delicious. I got the recipe from the latest issue of "VegNews" and highly recommend it to anyone, vegan or not.

Speaking of which...it's past dinnertime and my stomach is growling so I'm off to forage for dinner. Have a great weekend and keep knitting.



Sorry I've not posted but it's been one of those weeks. Knitting ....eh. I did finish a pair of socks for mom that came out and a pair for my sister. But, as I posted before, the sweater was a bust. I think that I shall stick to classic types of sweaters/cardigans for myself. They tend to look best. I get seduced by the trendy things but almost always am disappointed. 

Started on my Butin necklace but, duh....miscounted with the beads and didn't think it was a problem until 4 rows in and had to gently rip it out and restart. Well, I ripped it out and haven't restarted yet but will tomorrow.

Went to the first farmers' market last week and, score! found garlic scapes and leeks. The leeks were $1.00 each and seriously, they were as long as my arm and as big around as my wrist. Most definately a good buy.

Made some carrot cake cupcakes that were just great.

 From "Everyday Happy Herbivore" and they were really easy and low-fat.

Here's the only upside of all the rainy, gross weather we had last week.

Okay. I'm off to run some errands. Have a wonderful weekend.

Well, I would have posted sooner but I am disgusted.

I finished the Helleborous cardigan and it looks awful! The collar will not lie right and it doesn't fit at all. So I am going to finish some socks and I'll write soon. *sigh*



Stormy weather today. I do like that it's been chilly lately so I can still wear my hand knit socks. 

This is what I did this week. Found a denim shirt for $3.00 and decided to give it a little cross stitch. I haven't stitched in a long time and I really enjoyed it. Plus I have a new shirt.

Did some cooking today. Made risotto and tofu "chik'n" marsala in the slow cookers and some oatmeal coconut cookies. It's always nice on a rainy, chilly day to have the cookers going.

Went up to Main Street Yarns the other day http://mainstreetyarnsmason.com/ and got this kit http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/butin-collar. I've been looking at it for quite some time and just decided to go ahead and buy it. I'll more than likely make a few of them. I like Laura Nelkin's designs and am taking her lace class on Craftsy.

Okay. I'm off to finish my Helleborus sweater so I'll be back soon.

See, I did come back!

Busy weekend for me ...lots of running around and yesterday and today were soooo windy that it's just exhausting to be out.

Let's see. Yesterday. Started out with a venti iced soy latte and newspaper from Starbucks (mmmmm) and then drove to the park to enjoy the beautiful morning. (This was before the wind really picked up). It was a lovely morning and the park was great.

Then we decided to go to Hyde Park and kick around there for awhile. Stopped at Fresh Market http://www.thefreshmarket.com/ to get some of their ciabatta rolls and some quinoa as they were having a very good sale on that. The rolls make great sandwiches so I got regular and multi-grain. Yummy.

Then went to Sur La Table to pick up a glass container for juice drinks. Oh yeah...a few weeks ago I broke down and got a VitaMix www.vitamix.com and have been making vegetable/fruit drinks everyday. I haven't used it for anything else but am working my way up to it. I tend not to use machines for any cooking if I don't have to but this will be good, especially for crushing nuts because it's so strong that I don't have to soak them overnight anymore. Also got a tiny whisk to use for mixing egg replacer as I figured it will work better than a fork.

Next we stopped at Popeye's because mom loves their jambalaya. I just sit and watch her enjoy it because there isn't anything there for me to eat but that's fine with me. After the latte I wasn't hungry anyway.

Next was a stop at Hank www.hankyarn.com to get a pair of size 7 dpn's. Now I know that I have some because I used them a few months ago but I can't find them anywhere! I keep all needles in the same place but it's not the worst thing because I didn't really like that pair..old and plastic ..so I bought a pair of HiyaHiya stainless steel's 6". Much better. I had to have them because the other day I inadvertantly shrunk (whisper that) one of my socks that I designed. *GASP*. I didn't realize that I had thrown it in the wash. I was surprised that it felted since it's a front loader but the good thing is that I had only washed one so I only have to reknit one. So now I have a lovely set of dpn's to work with.

Let's see....where did we go next? Oh yes...Coffee Emporium http://www.coffee-emporium.com/ to get some tea. I bought some Walnut green, which has pieces of walnut and  pineapple (I'm having a pot now), and a few other kinds. Plus they have a tea/coffee club where you buy so much and then you get 2 ounces of tea free and I think it's a half pound of coffee. So I got my free 2 oz of walnut green and now I'm set for awhile.

The last stop was Penzey's spice store www.penzeys.com which was great fun. We went a few weeks ago but I was running out of the dehydrated garlic (the Best!!!) and I was there so why not? Picked up some different spices and can't wait to try them.

The other day was so chilly that I stayed and did some slow cooking in the crock pots. Made some bean and cabbage soup and tempeh choucroute garnie which is basically tempeh and sausage with sauerkraut,potatoes, caraway seeds and juniper berries. Just delicious. I will definately make both again.

Just finished another kal for the solidsockknitters group on Ravelry. The theme was yellow and the yarn is something that I had in my stash. I made them for Amanda and I hope she likes them.

Okay. Off to make some more tea and knit. Have a great night. 

Went to the park today and saw this guy with his friend. Quite the big iguana but he had a great time at the park.

More tomorrow.

Thought I'd sit down for a few minutes and try and catch up here. I've been knitting alot but just haven't really sat down at the computer to do much of anything.

The weather has been crazy here the past few days. 83* yesterday and low 60*s today. At least we didn't have any rain and storms today. Although quite a bit last night.

Here's another shot of my finished mystery kal shawl. http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitsensei/knitting-like-crazy-mystery-shawl-2012. The name of the pattern is "Belle Haven" and I really like it. It's somewhat smaller than I would have liked and I guess I should've gone up a needle size but I still am pleased with it. I was glad that the weather was cool enough the other day that I could wear it. Just perfect for spring weather. Plus I have enough left over to make a pair of socks. The yarn is "Mandarin Lime" by Done Roving Frolicking Feet and I love this yarn. I made another pair of socks using another colorway and the yarn is great.

I'm doing another kal...the theme is "yellow" and I'm knitting socks (it's for the solidsockknitters group) and using a dk weight doubled for the pattern. I am making them for Amanda so I hope they are good and comfy. I had started another pair with them but got to the foot and decided that I just didn't like them at all. So I ripped them all out (don't read that part Amanda!) and started the new pair which are much better.

This was the original pattern that I knit but it just didn't work with this yarn. But I am definately going to make it again. Not my favorite yarn but it was the only yellow that I had. I'm trying to finish everything on the needles so I can start on my Rowan piece "Holly"

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/holly-14. I have done colorwork  before but I'm nervous about this one. I don't know if it's the large charts or the fact that this is the most I've spent on yarn for a project. I have a lovely box of Rowan felted tweed that silently reproaches me everytime I look in it's general direction. Or maybe that's just my imagination.

Did some cooking this week. This is the most delicious french toast I've ever eaten!!

It's called "sticky carmel baked french toast" from "Vegan Junk Food" and ohhhhhhhhhh myyyyyyyyy. Served it with some lovely fresh sliced strawberries and it was fabulous!! I also made some of her "chicken" salad today. I haven't made one thing that hasn't been wonderful from the cookbook. http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Junk-Food-Sinful-Snacks/dp/1440528977/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333583818&sr=1-1. I highly recommend it to anyone, vegan or not.

A few weeks ago we drove up to Dayton to HealthFood Unlimited http://www.healthfoodsunlimited.com/ because they have items there that they don't carry here. And it's fun to poke around. I found Tofutti's Ricotta  that I'd been looking for and bought a few containers as they were so obliging as to have it on sale! And am I glad that I did. It's really creamy and so good and here are the stuffed shells that I made using it and also some sauteed kale and made my own sauce (fancy,no?)

Yummy.

Okay, the laundry is done and I have to go switch the load and watch season 4 of Chuck (thanks Target for having it on sale!!).

Have a great week and keep on knitting.

I know, I know. But here's partly why. 

And I'll be back in a day or two.

Been busy trying to catch up on the mystery shawl knitalong! The 4th clue was just released and I'm still working through the 3rd clue. But 2 more rows and then I can start on the last clue! 

It got to go to the park today for awhile.

It's been ridiculously hot here this week. Yesterday it was 86* and it broke a record. Just crazy. I was not ready for spring yet, much less this kind of heat. I still wanted cold and dark nights and one good snowstorm that closed everything for about 2 days. Certainly not shorts and sandals. And I was not ready to stop wearing my handknit socks :(

Here's something that is not knitted. Bought a few denim shirts on clearance and added some embroidery on one of them. I'm corss stitching on the other and am really enjoying it. I love to cross stitch. Have so many huge pieces on the walls so often did alot of jackets and clothes.

Made some stuffed shells the other day and used the new Tofutti ricotta cheese in the filling. Absolutely delicious. Added some sauteed kale and made my own tomato sauce. I will definately be using the ricotta again.

Just monkey-ing around here.

Okay. Off to finish the clue 3. Have a great night all.

Lookie what came today! My "loot'' from the gift certificate from http://www.dreamweaveryarns.com/catalog/. I got that from getting my sock pattern published in the upcoming Planet Purl book release. Fun stuff. Plus I got  a set of blocking wires since I'm starting to knit more lace shawls. The yarn is Malabrigo sock yarn in "terracotta''. I've never knit with the sock yarn but the worsted weight is lovely. I'm pleased to have the KnitPicks dpn's 5" set so more sock knitting will ensue.

Speaking of sock knitting....here's my finished set of Bilbo socks.

I love them.

The yarn is Trekking Art in the colorway "Jamaika". The only thing that I did different on sock 2 is on the highly cabled row I went up a needle size because the cables pull in alot. But I really like the pattern and will probably knit it again. I definately want to buy the rest of her patterns as well.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/fellowship-of-the-socks. They are in my Ravelry library for a someday soon.

Okay, off to knit on my mystery shawl kal and enjoy this crazy 75* weather!



Lots of knitting here!

Socks I knit for Amanda that were for a knitalong on Ravelry for the solidsockknitters group. This is the Hocket pattern http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitsensei/hocket-socks

and they are knit with Plymouth Encore worsted in brown. They came out really nice and I think she'll really like them. Considering I had her try on the first one when she stopped the other day and then could barely get it back, I'm pretty confident she wants them.

This is the start of the mystery shawl kal http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitsensei/knitting-like-crazy-mystery-shawl-2012 and the yarn is "mandarin lime" from Done Roving Frolicking Feet. I enjoyed the kal last year and so far haven't been disappointed! I have been slowly working on it because, as usual, I have overcommitted on kals.  But I finished the sock so only 2 to work on.  This is the other that I'm knitting...http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitsensei/bilbo-socks for the Claire Ellen Design group. It's the "We-hate-waiting-along" and I got the Bilbo pattern. I must say that I'm loving this pattern and the yarn. We are also having a read-a-long of "The Hobbit" at the same time.It's much farther along and I will be working on it tonight.

Been doing some cooking also.This is the pasta fazioli from one of Robin Robertson's cookbooks and a grilled "cheese" sandwich made with Daiya "cheese". It was a great meal for a cold winter day.

This is the red,red stew from "Everyday Happy Herbivore" with rice and fried plaintains. Absolutely delicious. Has black eyed peas and I quite enjoyed it and was so easy to make. I also made a tempeh loaf for lunch today that's wonderful.

Went to Lambikins on Sunday because they were having a sale. Bad, bad knitter. I shouldn't have spent any money but some things were such a good deal that I did anyway. Got some yarn to make socks for Amanda and also will be able to use them for some kals. So she will have to wait for some of them. Also got a lovely skein of Brown Sheep lace weight with 1500 yards on it for $12.00 in the colorway "pinot noir" for something for Amanda. I'm not sure what to make. Any suggestions?

Okay. Off to make a pot of tea and do some knitting. Have a great week!

I can't believe that I've let so long go in between posts. My only excuse is that I've been busy knitting. This is the Newton scarf made from Haruni yarn. About 650 yards on a skein so it was alot of knitting but I really like the scarf. The colors are a little muted ..it's quite bright.

 Finished these for a knitalong. They are "Rivendell" from "The Eclectic Sole'' and the color doesn't show great but it's a beautiful fushia. It's Cascade Heritage sock yarn and the color is "Hyacinth". These were for the Solidsockknitters' group on Ravelry. The theme this month is "spring" and the color is perfect for spring.

I did finish the "Supernova" sweater that I was knitting but...it really didn't turn out well. Everything was to gauge and it seamed up beautifully but when I tried it on the armpits were almost at my waist. What?? And if I pulled up the sleeves the hexagons that make up the top bunch up like a particularly unattractive leg-o-mutton sleeve. As if there's an attractive version of those. I was really disappointed. But my neighbor is a seamstress and I am going to take it up there this week and see if she can figure out how to fix it. Since it's wool I should be able to cut it to fix the underarm. At least I hope so. I like the sweater alot and would really like to be able to wear it.

Went up to Dayton today for a small road trip. Amanda drove and we stopped at the "whippydip" in Springboro to get some of their spicy fried pickle spears. I was surprised to see that it was open but yah! for us. They were delicious!

Then we drove to the big health food store -Health Foods Unlimited- and had a good time shopping and poking around. They have products that I can't find here, even at Whole Foods or Jungle Jims. I was most excited to find some Tofutti "ricotta" cheese and it was on sale. Woohoo for me. Plus they had The Tea of Republic's Comfort and Joy tea on sale for $3.99 a canister. Hooray! I love that tea and since it only it released around the holiday I usually get 2 cans and then try and make it last for as long as I can. So I picked up 2 more of them and I can have plenty throughout the year. I have a cup right now. So good.

Then we went to Dorothy Lane Market and picked up a couple of items...although now that I think of it I didn't get anything there. Mom and Amanda bought some things though. Oh. I did get a cup of coffee from the Boston Stokers kiosk there....snickerdoodle. It was good but my favorite is their Highlander Grogg. So tasty.

Okay. Off to get some more knitting finished. I'm trying to get a few things finished before I cast on something (or somethings) new. Have a great night.

Nothing going on here but some knitting. Snow showers tonight and tomorrow but COLD! Good thing wool socks are nice and warm.

These are the Rivendell socks from "The Eclectic Sole" and they are for a knitalong for the SolidSockknitters Ravelry group. The photo of the skein is a more true color. I don't know why my camera won't take true photos of purple or blue. I started another pair out of the same yarn but it didn't want to be that pattern because it just wasn't working in that pattern. This one is going great though.

Finally got to Knit On in Monmouth/Newport, Ky. I hadn't been since they  opened their new location but had a great time. 

These are just a few shots of their stock. It was rather overwhelming when you first walked in but had to take a deep breath and just throw yourself in and start looking.

Bought a few things...

This is a discontinued yarn that Amanda loved so it is going to be a shawl for her. It is this....http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Antalee/frosti-english and I  think it will be lovely.

Also went to The Spice and Tea Exchange in Rookwood. www.spiceandtea.com.

We had fun poking around and bought a few things. Got a lovely coconut oolong tea and some different spices. It was an interesting shop and we probably will go back again.

Well, I am trying to finish a sweater so I am going to go and have a cuppa and pop in a dvd (found the series "Sports Night at the library) and try and finish some of it. Keep knitting and stay warm!

Yes, yes, I know. Bad blogger. But I have a really good reason this time. These are my socks that I designed and back in October I submitted them to Planet Purl (www.planetpurl.com) to be published in their upcoming book "American Gift Knitting/American Sock Knitting" and they were accepted!  These are my first design and I was rather surprised. Actually, I was gobsmacked! They sent me the yarn that they wanted me to knit them with...Ella Rae Heathers and it was a lovely yarn. It's hard to tell but it's a nice light blue. I just sent them in to them today as well as the pattern and when they receive it they will send me a $100.00 gift certificate to www.dreamweaveryarns.com. And 2 copies of the book when it's released. So yah! for me.

Also finished this. It's called "The Key to Warmth" and I LOVE it. It's knit with KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Currant and Tumeric and a really fast knit and so warm. Of course, now it's 67* out and much too warm for wool. But I'm sure it will get cold again. My birthday is almost always icy and awful weather. But there's about 2 weeks left before that so we shall see.

New mug! You know how much I "loves" me some mugs. I found it on clearance at my local grocery store (they have a Starbucks' kiosk there) and it was only $2.19. Score!

I have the green one with the holly on it so now I have a little matching set. I'm easy to please!

Here's my other treat. I got this for under $20.00.  It's over 4000 yds of a lovely worsted weight and I'll be able to get at least 2 sweaters out of it and maybe a cowl or something else. It was quite a deal. I got it at http://www.discontinuedbrandnameyarn.com. They have such great deals. I especially like their Cherry Tree Hill sales.

Okay, off to try and finish the sleeve on my sweater. What sweater you ask? I'll tell you next time!